Building a staircase is not an easy process. There are many aspects that need to be considered, along with exact measurements and diligent calculations. However, if you decided to do it yourself, get ready for a challenging task!

Staircases must be built in accordance with specific building codes and regulations to make sure that they are safe and easy to climb. Tall steps are hard to climb whilst short steps are dangerous and uncomfortable. If you have basic carpentry skills, you should know that there's very little room for error, and constructing a staircase needs patience, careful planning and exact calculations.  You can begin the process by checking your building code for local guidelines, and continue with following the below steps, keeping in mind that you need to take your time to plan and carry out everything correctly.

A typical staircase contains stringers, risers and treads: 

A stringer is a structural support, which carries the weight of people using the stairs. 

A riser is a near-vertical element that forms the space between every stair step.  

A stair tread is a horizontal step upon which we step when we walk on a staircase.

Here are three simple steps to help you construct a straight staircase:

Step one: Calculate the height and width of the area where the staircase is going to be placed.

A good thing to remember when carrying out this step is that the more width the stairs have, the safer and more comfortable you feel when you walk on them. Find out the height of the stairs by measuring from the landing to the ground. After finding the total rise, continue by calculating the rise of each step. Divide the total rise by 7, which is the usual rise per step, to get the number of steps. To find out the actual rise of the steps, divide the total rise by the number of steps.

Continue with calculating the horizontal distance covered by the stairs, and the total run of the steps. It's good to know that the ideal run of each step is minimum 10 in., and it is recommendable to add a stair landing every 7 or 8 steps, especially if you are building a tall staircase.

Step two: Cut the stringers and attach them to the deck frame.

Prior to cutting the stringers, decide if you will attach them under the deck frame or straight to the rim joist. If they will be attached under the deck, the stringer ends have to be cut long, to fit the framing. 

Use a stair gauge fitted framing square and mark the tread notches. Continue with cutting the notches by using a circular saw, but be careful to cut directly on the lines and not beyond them. Complete the cuts with a handsaw or a jigsaw. Next, from the bottom of a stringer, cut out a size equal to the thickness of the tread and keep that stringer as a template to trim the remaining stringers.

Fit each stringer with screws to the deck frame blocking and make sure that every stair step is levelled perfectly. Alternatively, use a block plane to cut down any high spots.

Step three: Install the treads and risers, and complete the staircase by attaching posts, and handrails.

Fit the risers to the stringers with 2 1/2-in. trim-head decking screws. After fitting the risers, install and secure the treads with screws, working your way up the staircase. Next, fit your preferred posts and handrail.

If you decided to build your own staircase and you need further information about this process, please feel free to contact us, and we will be happy to assist you.